Houzz Tour: Palm Springs Style Finds a Place in Moscow
A Russian designer’s apartment faithfully channels the energy and colorful elegance of California interiors
Евгения Назарова
July 28, 2018
Photos by Yury Grishko
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Marina Zhukova, pictured, with her husband and two sons
Location: Moscow
Size: 1,475 square feet (137 square meters)
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Marina Zhukova, pictured, with her husband and two sons
Location: Moscow
Size: 1,475 square feet (137 square meters)
Marina Zhukova is a fan of Palm Springs interiors, which celebrate geometric patterns and bright accents against a background of light-colored walls. The designer’s own apartment pairs this style with mesmerizing artwork.
“Once I sent some pictures of the interior to a magazine in California, and they were published. The editors were very surprised that the apartment is in Moscow,” Zhukova says.
“Once I sent some pictures of the interior to a magazine in California, and they were published. The editors were very surprised that the apartment is in Moscow,” Zhukova says.
The location of the windows was the main restriction on the layout. The living room, kitchen and office, pictured on the left side, overlook the street, while the bedroom windows open to the courtyard.
The family entertains often, so it was important to separate the public and the private areas. The open living-dining room is a walk-through space that leads to all the other rooms, including the office, which can serve as an additional bedroom when necessary.
The kitchen is an extension of the entryway. Zhukova says this is handy because she can bring in groceries without having to take off her shoes.
The doors with moldings were made based on the designer’s sketches. One leads to the guest bathroom and the other to the walk-in closet.
A narrow partition marks the boundary between the open spaces.
The doors with moldings were made based on the designer’s sketches. One leads to the guest bathroom and the other to the walk-in closet.
A narrow partition marks the boundary between the open spaces.
The kitchen is a single-wall design with an island. On the left of the wall are tall cabinets with built-in appliances and shelves for storage. On the right are two refrigerators, each 23½ inches wide.
A single side-by-side refrigerator wouldn’t have worked as well for two reasons: First, it wouldn’t have held as much as two separate units; second, Zhukova wanted to hide the refrigerator behind cabinet doors, but the only side-by-side built-in model available in Russia is triple the price of a normal fridge.
Kitchen cabinetry: Scavolini
A single side-by-side refrigerator wouldn’t have worked as well for two reasons: First, it wouldn’t have held as much as two separate units; second, Zhukova wanted to hide the refrigerator behind cabinet doors, but the only side-by-side built-in model available in Russia is triple the price of a normal fridge.
Kitchen cabinetry: Scavolini
The kitchen island has a blue acrylic countertop and holds a sink with garbage disposal, a dishwasher and a wine cooler. At 23½ inches wide, the island is slightly narrower than the more common 31½ inches to save space in the narrow kitchen.
“Many people tried to dissuade me since a narrow island is often considered uncomfortable to use,” Zhukova says. “But in practice, it was very successful. Now the island is a magnet for guests, and I often propose the same solution to my customers.”
“Many people tried to dissuade me since a narrow island is often considered uncomfortable to use,” Zhukova says. “But in practice, it was very successful. Now the island is a magnet for guests, and I often propose the same solution to my customers.”
The enclosed balcony was incorporated into the kitchen. The designer opted not to install doors in between, thus connecting the two rooms and flooding the kitchen with light. She furnished this area with an Eero Saarinen Tulip table, and the family’s life revolves around it all day long.
The window treatment is made up of several fabrics from Jim Thompson. A mix of orange and turquoise accents — Zhukova’s favorite color combination — is visible throughout the apartment.
Chandelier: Jonathan Adler
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The window treatment is made up of several fabrics from Jim Thompson. A mix of orange and turquoise accents — Zhukova’s favorite color combination — is visible throughout the apartment.
Chandelier: Jonathan Adler
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A laser-cut plywood lattice conceals the kitchen radiator. The radiator and ventilation grilles in the apartment were custom-made based on Zhukova’s sketches.
“My husband and I prefer bright, fresh colors, which in fact determined the color palette. There are also a lot of contemporary paintings — I love artwork,” she says.
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“My husband and I prefer bright, fresh colors, which in fact determined the color palette. There are also a lot of contemporary paintings — I love artwork,” she says.
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There were two load-bearing columns in the original layout. One was on the border between the kitchen and the living room. Zhukova decided to cover it in metallic wallpaper to blend it into the rest of the space.
Painting: “Fish,” Eva Khan; wallpaper: Cole & Son; find metallic geometric wallpaper
Painting: “Fish,” Eva Khan; wallpaper: Cole & Son; find metallic geometric wallpaper
“It was not difficult to work with nonstandard doorways. The only difficulty is that they are quite wide, so we had to make a joint in the middle of the decorative wooden molding. When it’s cold and the heating is on, the material shrinks, and in spring and summer, when the humidity is a bit higher, the joint becomes slightly convex. I do not consider this a problem — I like to see how the material lives,” Zhukova says.
Sofa: Wesley Hall; sofa fabric: Designers Guild; painting: “Still Life Study,” Alexander Vinogradov and Vladimir Dubossarsky
Sofa: Wesley Hall; sofa fabric: Designers Guild; painting: “Still Life Study,” Alexander Vinogradov and Vladimir Dubossarsky
The oak floor in the living room was laid in a herringbone pattern and painted white. “The famous American designer Jonathan Adler said that you’ll feel carefree if you paint your floors white. I absolutely agree with him. The truth is, you need to be prepared for the fact that natural wood grows old and changes over time,” Zhukova says.
Chandelier: Arteriors; rug: Global Views; find similar rugs
Chandelier: Arteriors; rug: Global Views; find similar rugs
The office is next to the living room. Zhukova set up a reading space by the window, which boasts a comfy soft seat, bookshelves on each side and its own lighting.
“This is my favorite place in the house, my own little corner,” says Zhukova, pictured with one of her two sons. “The windows overlook the road and the circus, which is lit up with its many lights. I’m fascinated with the movement at the intersection. I think I could stare at this view forever.”
“This is my favorite place in the house, my own little corner,” says Zhukova, pictured with one of her two sons. “The windows overlook the road and the circus, which is lit up with its many lights. I’m fascinated with the movement at the intersection. I think I could stare at this view forever.”
The accent wall in the office is decorated with bright geometric wallpaper. It was Zhukova’s husband’s idea. The pattern from Cole & Son combines all the shades used throughout the apartment and suggests new ones.
Wool fabric on the bench seat: Jim Thompson; light fixtures: Tom Dixon; accessories: Jonathan Adler and Zara Home
Wool fabric on the bench seat: Jim Thompson; light fixtures: Tom Dixon; accessories: Jonathan Adler and Zara Home
A lot of the decor, including the light fixtures, was imported from the U.S. because the brands the owners liked were not available in Russia at the time. Fun fact: The Russian postal system managed to deliver the 6½-foot-long headboard without any problems.
The bedroom’s decor concept rests on the pairing of bright prints and zebra sculptures. “Sometimes I joke that the design of any room begins with the search for the [equine] head: I am inspired by these animals,” Zhukova says.
The bedroom’s decor concept rests on the pairing of bright prints and zebra sculptures. “Sometimes I joke that the design of any room begins with the search for the [equine] head: I am inspired by these animals,” Zhukova says.
The zebra pattern is echoed not only in the decorative pillows on the bed but also in the wallpaper in the en suite bathroom.
The bathroom is open to the bedroom, with only the toilet and shower area hidden from view. A large vanity features two sinks and three mirrors. The third is for putting on makeup, and part of the countertop doubles as a dressing table.
The bathroom is open to the bedroom, with only the toilet and shower area hidden from view. A large vanity features two sinks and three mirrors. The third is for putting on makeup, and part of the countertop doubles as a dressing table.
The bathroom is finished in a black-and-white marble mosaic. “I felt dizzy at first, but I like … techniques that exercise your sensory organs — especially since you get used to bold decor over time. Now we feel quite comfortable with it,” Zhukova says.
The nursery was designed with the owners’ sons in mind. This is already the second and more “grown-up” version of its decor, Zhukova says; the first was aimed at toddlers. The main part of the space is for rest and sleep, while the play area is in the attached sunroom.
The owners chose geometric wallpaper in a shade that matches the headboards and the rug.
Wallpaper: Thibaut; side table and bookcase: Any Home; table lamp: Jonathan Adler; rug: Global Views
The owners chose geometric wallpaper in a shade that matches the headboards and the rug.
Wallpaper: Thibaut; side table and bookcase: Any Home; table lamp: Jonathan Adler; rug: Global Views
The walls in the three-piece children’s bathroom are covered with standard subway tiles in a herringbone pattern, creating the effect of colored waves.
Sink: Starck collection, Duravit
How to Choose the Right Tile Layout
Sink: Starck collection, Duravit
How to Choose the Right Tile Layout
Zhukova says the guest bathroom is made for relaxation. The owners couldn’t resist wallpaper with images of raccoons and birds.
“We assumed that the bright design would encourage guests to stay longer and think about the interior in detail. In fact, children enjoy being here more than anyone else. I think my sons have spent a lot of time studying the animals on this wallpaper,” she says.
Wallpaper: House of Hackney
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“We assumed that the bright design would encourage guests to stay longer and think about the interior in detail. In fact, children enjoy being here more than anyone else. I think my sons have spent a lot of time studying the animals on this wallpaper,” she says.
Wallpaper: House of Hackney
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
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Playful & fearless use of colour and styles throughout which suggests a many faceted character. I admire and respect the choice to be bold and flamboyant...Viva la difference!
Sensational use of colour and whimsy. Almost like a child's story book illustrations coming out to play throughout the home. Certainly not to everyone's taste but bravo to a point of difference finally and straying far away from the incredibly safe.
Love almost everything in this apartment. However importing headboard from America to Russia?? Really? When are we gonna wake up?